Ross Garner, Michael Conklin, Michael Bacon, Cruz Martinez, Pedro Tafoya, and Shalya Phillips discuss what great books, discussions, and mentors had the greatest impact on them while they were scholars at John Adams Academy, and why they chose to come back to the after graduation to teach. They talk about the learning environment at the Academy as one where the mentors are as engaged in the learning process as the scholars and are all working to improve themselves and increase their knowledge and abilities.

The views expressed by individuals in this podcast are their own and do not represent John Adams Academy.

The music used in this episode is adapted and used with proper permission and licensing (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Ross Garner, Karin Anderson, Mark Bixler and Victoria and Constance Smith discuss Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Mark begins by providing a short synopsis of the book after which Constances poses a question regarding the hypocrtical religious views of Marie St. Claire in the book. They discuss the nature of religion and the way it can ironically be twisted to justify immorality. They also discuss the effect of slavery on the human soul and how Uncle Tom attained a freedom of his soul in spite of his bonds.

The views expressed by individuals in this podcast are their own and do not represent John Adams Academy.

The music used in this episode is adapted and used with proper permission and licensing (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Ross Garner and Josh Christensen discuss William Wordsworth's sonnet "The World Is Too Much With Us." They begin by reading the peom aloud and then consider its meaning. They discuss why we as humans waste our powers in merely getting and spending money, and how we can live more in tune with Nature and harmonize our lives with others.

The views expressed by individuals in this podcast are their own and do not represent John Adams Academy.

The music used in this episode is adapted and used with proper permission and licensing (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)